Montville Scores High in First Marching Band Competition

The Montville High School Field Corps proudly walked away from their first competition this season with second place out of 13 schools.

This past Saturday they traveled to Morris Knolls High School for a Gold Star Show marching band competition.

They placed second with a score of 67.15 in their group, 3 Open, and Fair Lawn beat them to first with only .85 point difference in scores. Montville took home awards for best music, visual and color guard.

The band, which placed fifth in nationals and third in the state competition last year, is excited for the season, said Claudia Lemmerz, recording secretary for the Montville Marching Band Booster Association. The band will participate in seven competitions this season, including the NJ State Competition and the National Competition in November at Met Life Stadium.

Montville also hosts its own annual marching band competition, the Mustang Fall Classic, which brings 15 New Jersey marching bands to compete at Montville Township High School. The event is scheduled for Oct. 26.

There are 58 members of the marching band and eight members of the color guard. This year, the band welcomed 18 freshmen.

Here’s a look at the local schools’ scores, where they placed and additional awards:

• Pompton Lakes High School (group 2A) - 1st Place - Score: 63.525 - Best Music, Visual, Effect, Guard, Percussion
• Morris Hills High School (group 2 Open) - 1st Place - Score: 67.175 - Best Music, Visual, Effect, Guard, Percussion
• North Warren Regional High School (group 3A) - 1st Place - Score: 66.05 - Best Visual, Guard
• Parsippany Hills High School (group 3A) - 2nd Place - Score: 66 - Best Music, Percussion
• Pequannock Township High School (group 3A) - 3rd Place - Score: 65.7 - Best Effect
• Fair Lawn High School (group 3 Open) - 1st Place - Score: 68 - Best Effect, Percussion
• Montville Township High School (group 3 Open) - 2nd Place - Score: 67.15 - Best Music, Visual, Guard
• Union High School (group 4A) - 1st Place - Score: 68.4 - Best Music, Effect, Guard, Percussion
• Northern Highlands High School (group 4A) - 2nd Place - Score: 67.4 - Best Visual
• Nazareth Area High School (group 4 Open) - 1st Place - Score: 71.125 - Best Music, Visual, Effect, Guard, Percussion
• Parsippany High School (group 5A) - 1st Place - Score: 67.575 - Best Music, Visual, Effect, Guard, Percussion
• Immaculata High School (group 5 Open) - 1st Place - Score: 72.175 - Best Music, Visual, Effect, Guard, Percussion
• New Hartford High School (group 5 Open) - 2nd Place - Score: 70.05